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This is the
entrance to the pyramid.
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It's really very exciting.
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00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:11,640
Archaeologists are on the brink of the
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discovery of a lifetime.
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MOHAMED
Nobody entered here.
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00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,240
It's a really important
moment for all of us.
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00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,360
Ahead,
the burial chamber of
a mysterious ancient queen,
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00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,000
untouched for 4,000 years.
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We will
see if this wooden beam
is really stable enough.
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We will remove this part.
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Let's hope it's safe.
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00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:52,440
Egypt.
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The land of the pyramids
and mighty monuments.
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Built by all powerful Pharaohs
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great kings like Khufu,
Ramses and Tutankhamun.
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00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,520
But now archaeologists are
revealing new evidence of
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00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:11,040
rulers of a
different kind who could
wield great power and
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00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,320
even become
Pharaohs themselves...
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00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,120
the Queens of Egypt.
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00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,200
How do these women
rise to power in a world
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00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:21,800
dominated by men?
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00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:32,280
To investigate American
Egyptologist Colleen Darnell
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00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:36,480
explores a
temple built by one of
Egypt's greatest queens...
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00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:39,200
Hatshepsut.
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00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,920
This temple is fantastic.
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00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,120
A row of imposing
statues lines the temple.
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00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,440
Oh, my goodness,
this is amazing!
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00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:53,880
These statues are
images of the pharaoh
in the form of Osiris,
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but we know it's a king
because of the double crown
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00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,000
of upper and lower Egypt.
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This is the
temple of Queen Hatshepsut,
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00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,760
but there are statues
of kings everywhere.
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The king
wears a divine beard,
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00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,280
and holds a crook and a flail,
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00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:13,920
typical symbols of royalty.
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00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,200
Even though
she was a woman,
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00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,440
Hatshepsut portrayed
herself as a man.
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00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,840
Colleen investigates why...
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00:02:21,920 --> 00:02:25,200
I would like to find
a cartouche that has a royal
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00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,840
name written in hieroglyphs.
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00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,840
A cartouche is
an oval-shaped box used
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00:02:31,920 --> 00:02:33,520
in Egyptian inscriptions.
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Only kings or queens could
put their name inside one.
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00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,080
Colleen hunts
inside the temple.
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It's a difficult task.
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00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:48,120
Many cartouches here have
been hacked out or destroyed.
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00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:50,520
Aha!
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00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:52,560
This is the cartouche
I've been looking for.
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00:02:52,640 --> 00:02:54,920
Hat-shep-sut.
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00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,920
Over here is the word
"saat" for daughter.
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00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:00,440
Now this is a big clue...
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00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:04,680
The daughter of Re,
of his body, Hatshepsut.
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00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,640
Hatshepsut's
cartouche identifies her as
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a daughter, not a son.
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00:03:10,920 --> 00:03:13,080
It's clear she was
not hiding her gender.
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00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:17,960
But the only way
Hatshepsut could project
her power as a pharaoh,
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00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,320
was to portray
herself as a man...
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00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:21,480
As a king.
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00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:28,560
Hatshepsut was a queen
of Egypt and one of only
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00:03:28,640 --> 00:03:31,560
a few women ever
to rule as king.
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00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,320
She restored broken trade
routes with foreign lands,
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00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,520
bringing a wealth of
luxuries like gold, myrrh,
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00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:42,960
and ebony into Egypt.
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00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:46,600
In the capital, Thebes,
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00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,120
she erected
colossal monuments,
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00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,360
signifying the power, riches,
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00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,120
and order she
brought to her country.
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00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,680
And her mortuary temple
is one of the grandest ever
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00:03:57,760 --> 00:03:59,360
built in Egypt.
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00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,640
Its splendor is a monument
to Egypt's success under
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00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:04,080
Hatshepsut's rule.
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00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:12,880
But how did this famous and
celebrated queen become king?
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00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,800
Colleen investigates.
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00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:18,440
This is a
really interesting wall.
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00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:23,520
The name of Thutmose III is
here and these would have been
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00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,600
the cartouches of Hatshepsut.
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00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,600
Hatshepsut was the
daughter of one pharaoh and
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00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:31,720
married to another.
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00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:33,200
When her husband died,
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00:04:33,280 --> 00:04:36,760
her infant
nephew Thutmose
the Third became king.
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00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,240
Thutmose III
was just a child,
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00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,840
so Hatshepsut essentially
ruled Egypt as queen,
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00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,720
but then she transforms
into Pharaoh herself,
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00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:50,080
into a co-regent,
with Thutmose III.
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00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,360
Hatshepsut ruled as co-regent for
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00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,480
20 prosperous years.
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00:04:56,080 --> 00:05:00,160
The magnificent temple
is testament to her rule.
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00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,920
But why is it so hard to
find evidence of her here?
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00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:06,360
COLLEEN
After Hatshepsut's death,
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00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:08,400
Thutmose became sole pharaoh,
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00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:10,960
and later on in his
reign he hacked out
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00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,200
the names and images
of his aunt, Hatshepsut.
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00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,720
Thutmose wanted to
erase the memory of Hatshepsut
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00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,320
and her children to secure
the throne for his son.
95
00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,720
Yet, Hatshepsut's name
survives as evidence of the
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00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,960
power women could
attain in ancient Egypt.
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00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:31,400
COLLEEN She
was a spectacular pharaoh.
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00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,200
From monumental
building campaigns,
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00:05:33,280 --> 00:05:35,200
to expeditions
to far off lands,
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00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:38,760
but I want to
know more about how
she ruled as a woman.
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00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,520
Archaeologist Patryk Chudzik is also
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00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,280
exploring the
temple of Hatshepsut.
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00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,160
Like Colleen, he's
on the trail of how she
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00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:56,760
ruled as a woman.
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00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,200
From 22nd-23rd dynasty.
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00:06:01,280 --> 00:06:04,160
Patryk always dreamed of
becoming an Egyptologist.
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00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,800
Now he leads the Polish
mission at one of Egypt's most
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00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:09,280
famous monuments.
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Hatshepsut is my favourite pharaoh.
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It's a specific
story of a woman who
became a female king.
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His team excavates
ground beside the temple.
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00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,120
The old pathway
leads to an ancient tomb.
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00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:34,440
To me it's
the most exciting tomb
in the Hatshepsut temple.
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00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,240
100 years ago,
American archaeologist
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00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,640
Herbert Winlock
excavated here.
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00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,200
But he left a secret
hidden beneath the Temple:
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00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:51,080
a tomb that he recorded
but never fully excavated.
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00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,040
We know that
this tomb was erected
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00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,720
around five hundred years
before Hatshepsut's reign.
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00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,320
And when she built
her temple in this area
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00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,320
she left the area empty.
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00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,080
Hatshepsut could
have destroyed the tomb to
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00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,840
build her temple here,
but she didn't.
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00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,960
The question is
why she left the tomb open?
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00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,720
Patryk hopes that
the mystery of the tomb might
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00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:42,960
explain why Hatshepsut built
her temple here and reveal
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00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:46,640
something of how she
ruled as a pharaoh queen.
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00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:59,560
At Saqqara, Mohamed Megahed
is also investigating
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00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:01,520
the queens of Egypt.
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00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:05,640
He is exploring the remains of
a pyramid built for a queen.
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00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,440
I like our work
because it's not boring,
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00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,480
every day you have a change,
every season you come here you
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00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,200
have something new.
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00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,080
Mohamed, who
lives in the Czech Republic,
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00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,320
has been returning to his
native Egypt for 12 years
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00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,560
to excavate this site.
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00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,920
He sees archaeology as
a forensic investigation.
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00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,600
This is
our crime scene,
every piece of sand,
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00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:34,160
every piece of limestone it
gives us an idea of how the
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00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,720
site looked like.
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00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:39,840
Mohamed heads up
to the top of the pyramid.
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00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:41,160
The core has collapsed,
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00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:43,840
forming a deep
crater in the center.
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00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,880
But he plans to search for
the original entrance tunnel.
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00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,000
Today we will
start digging and finding the
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00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:53,080
entrance of the pyramid.
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00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,600
This is the
biggest pyramid ever built
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00:08:56,680 --> 00:08:58,280
for a queen.
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00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,120
She must have been
extraordinarily powerful.
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00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,120
Who was she?
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00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:05,600
For hundreds of years,
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00:09:05,680 --> 00:09:08,560
we knew that this
pyramid was a mystery.
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00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:11,840
The last attempt
to excavate it in 1952 failed
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00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:13,600
to find the burial chamber.
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00:09:15,560 --> 00:09:17,360
We knew that
it was built for a queen,
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00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:20,080
but we never knew
who was buried inside.
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00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,800
We used to call this
pyramid, 'The pyramid
of the unknown queen.'
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00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:28,080
Mohamed discovered
the identity of the owner
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00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:29,720
two years ago.
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00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:33,400
We found
the granite column lying in
this area and on the column,
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00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:36,600
we have the name of
the queen and her titles.
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00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,000
MOHAMED
Now we can say that
this pyramid belonged
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00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,080
to Queen Setibhor.
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00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,400
Setibhor was
the wife of King Djedkare,
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00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,960
a powerful
Old Kingdom Pharaoh who ruled
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00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,440
4,400 years ago.
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00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:58,120
Djedkare built a
pyramid 170-feet tall,
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00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,840
cased with
white tura limestone,
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00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,800
and capped with a
stone pyramidion...
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00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:05,080
plated with gold.
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00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,000
Around his pyramid sprawled
a vast complex of columns,
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00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:13,040
statues, and temples.
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00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,560
To the northeast is a
second pyramid for his wife,
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00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:20,480
Queen Setibhor, with blocks
weighing up to 30 tons,
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00:10:21,560 --> 00:10:25,280
rising 110-feet
from the desert sand.
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00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:28,600
Clad in brilliant limestone,
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00:10:28,680 --> 00:10:31,920
it had a burial chamber at
its heart to keep Setibhor's
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00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,320
body safe for all eternity.
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00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,360
Queen Setibhor's pyramid
is the largest remaining
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00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,800
with an unexplored
burial chamber in Egypt.
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00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,840
The pyramid of Setibhor is
really the last pyramid
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00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:49,160
to enter in the modern time.
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00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:50,320
Nobody entered here.
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00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,320
It's a really important
moment for all of us.
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00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,200
Discoveries in her
burial chamber could explain
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00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:59,360
her importance and why
she has such a huge pyramid.
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00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,560
But today, large parts
of the pyramid are missing and
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00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:05,760
filled with sand.
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00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,120
Mohamed has to dig deep
to find any remains.
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00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:15,960
A metal scraping catches
Mohamed's attention.
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00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:20,400
We have here for
the first time today some
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00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,040
nice white limestone.
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00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,720
The high-quality
limestone block could be a
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00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,000
sign of the entrance.
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00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,920
We have
to still go deeper.
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00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,440
After many
hours of hard digging,
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00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:37,040
Mohamed feels he
is getting close.
198
00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:39,000
MOHAMED
I'm so excited.
199
00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:42,520
Underneath here, I'm
definitely sure that we will
200
00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:44,240
have the entrance
of the pyramid.
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00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,560
No one in
the modern era has entered
202
00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,320
Queen Setibhor's
burial chamber,
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00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,000
but Mohamed has discovered
an ancient passage.
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00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,360
He could soon be the first
person to step inside the
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00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:05,040
chamber in over 4,000 years.
206
00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:20,720
But ahead, a wall of
sand blocks the way.
207
00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:24,280
A team excavated here in 1952.
208
00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:28,280
They built a wall and propped
up a collapsed ceiling before
209
00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,320
they abandoned their search
for the burial chamber.
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00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,720
We will see if this
wooden beam is really stable
211
00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,880
enough and if it's not stable,
we have to build here a small
212
00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:41,280
wall to support this.
213
00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,080
Thousands of tons
of rubble and stone are
214
00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:45,640
directly above their heads.
215
00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:48,240
Let's hope it's safe.
216
00:12:48,680 --> 00:12:52,000
We will remove
this part of wood
217
00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:53,600
and we'll build here.
218
00:12:55,560 --> 00:12:58,520
Mohamed must make
the corridor safe immediately
219
00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:00,240
or risk a collapse.
220
00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:02,760
We cannot
leave it for tomorrow.
221
00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:04,200
We have immediately
to build it.
222
00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:06,320
Today.
223
00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:13,840
At Deir El-Bahari near Luxor,
224
00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,000
Colleen is investigating
the reign of the pharaoh
225
00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:21,920
Queen Hatshepsut
and how she ruled a
society dominated by men.
226
00:13:23,680 --> 00:13:24,880
See,
this is interesting.
227
00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:28,200
Hatshepsut is being breast
fed by goddesses and this is
228
00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:30,360
something that we
know kings claimed.
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00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,400
That they were consuming
the milk of various goddesses.
230
00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,320
The engraving
reveals that Hatshepsut
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00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:42,280
claimed kingship
as her divine right.
232
00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:44,440
She was the
choice of the gods.
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00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:49,520
This is the
god Amun, and he's seated,
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00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:54,840
his legs are, are slightly
overlapping those of Ahmose,
235
00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,960
the mother of Hatshepsut.
236
00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:03,320
Amun is handing
an Ankh sign, the sign
of life to Queen Ahmose
237
00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:06,720
and what this
means is that Amun is
238
00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,640
impregnating the queen.
239
00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,960
This is the moment of
Hatshepsut's conception.
240
00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:17,880
Hatshepsut claimed divine birth,
241
00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,160
that she was the
daughter of the god Amun.
242
00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:22,800
It was a powerful claim.
243
00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:25,920
Hatshepsut is
being very clever here.
244
00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:30,400
Only the king can claim
to be of divine birth.
245
00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,520
She's using as propaganda
the divine birth,
246
00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,760
claiming her right
to be a pharaoh.
247
00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:43,240
Egyptians expected
the pharaoh to be male.
248
00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:45,800
Hatshepsut's royal birth
and marriage were not
249
00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,280
enough to claim the throne.
250
00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,200
She had to invoke
the will of the gods.
251
00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:54,680
She was
the daughter of a king,
252
00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,640
and the wife of a king,
but the divine birth scenes
253
00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,240
enabled her to become king.
254
00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:05,080
Hatshepsut relied on clever propaganda
255
00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:08,560
to legitimize her
revolutionary rule.
256
00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:11,080
COLLEEN From the
beginning of Egyptian history,
257
00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:15,600
queen mothers could rule
when pharaohs were very young.
258
00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:17,880
But Hatshepsut does
something different.
259
00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:22,440
She becomes pharaoh herself,
co-regent with Thutmose III,
260
00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:25,040
and here in
Hatshepsut's temple,
261
00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:28,120
we see her
remarkable rise to power.
262
00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:32,880
Hatshepsut was
the firstborn of a pharaoh.
263
00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:36,680
She married the next pharaoh,
her half-brother.
264
00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:40,200
But when he died,
the next male heir was her
265
00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,080
infant nephew Thutmose.
266
00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:45,800
When the child
took the throne,
267
00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,720
she ruled by his
side for seven years,
268
00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,480
but then she made
a power grab,
269
00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:53,680
declaring herself
a true Pharaoh.
270
00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:00,800
As Pharaoh,
Hatshepsut launched
a campaign of propaganda.
271
00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:03,640
Painting scenes showing
the great god Amun as
272
00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:08,400
her father and of her birth,
in the presence of the gods,
273
00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:11,240
legitimizing her
as the divine heir to
274
00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:12,560
the throne of Egypt.
275
00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,600
Ooh,
this is incredible!
276
00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:21,280
This is Hatshepsut as a
sphinx and you can see her
277
00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:26,120
long curling tail and what's
awesome are the legs of the
278
00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:30,080
enemies flying up in the air,
as she tramples them.
279
00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:34,120
Even though Hatshepsut
was a female king,
280
00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,480
this depiction of her as a
trampling sphinx indicates the
281
00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:39,920
ferocity of her rule.
282
00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:44,320
Hatshepsut had to
project a carefully crafted
283
00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:48,320
image of physical
strength and divine right.
284
00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:53,200
She was a prototype for ruling
queens throughout history.
285
00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:57,680
As a
female pharaoh Hatshepsut
had tremendous power,
286
00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,320
but what I want to know
is did other queens exert
287
00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:02,240
the same authority?
288
00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,280
Colleen wants
to find out if more ancient
289
00:17:06,360 --> 00:17:09,920
Egyptian queens followed
Hatshepsut's example.
290
00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,840
Or if there was another
way to be a powerful Queen.
291
00:17:19,120 --> 00:17:22,280
At Saqqara, Mohamed's team
races to reinforce the
292
00:17:22,360 --> 00:17:25,480
entrance to queen
Setibhor's ancient pyramid.
293
00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:30,080
While Mohamed waits,
the rest of his team excavates
294
00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,920
the strange ruins
next to her pyramid.
295
00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:36,560
They have found huge stone
blocks buried in a deep
296
00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,760
sand-filled pit.
297
00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:42,920
They could reveal
clues to the role
and power of Setibhor.
298
00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,600
But first they
have to dig them out.
299
00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:48,640
It was a very simple
calculation: The block weight
300
00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:50,760
is six and a half tons.
301
00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:54,120
For moving heavy stones like
this you don't need muscles,
302
00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:55,760
you need brain.
303
00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:58,000
As the
men get started,
304
00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:01,320
Mohammed spots
ancient hieroglyphs
carved into the granite.
305
00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:05,920
It's mentioning
twice the name of the queen
306
00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,800
and one of
her titles, that's it.
307
00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:13,400
Interestingly,
she's not mentioning
that she's the king's wife.
308
00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,480
The hieroglyphs
suggest Setibhor is not just a
309
00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:19,240
royal wife.
310
00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,880
Also, the block itself
could be part of an
311
00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,520
important structure
next to her pyramid.
312
00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:28,200
And could reveal the extent
of her power and importance.
313
00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,080
This is the
fun maybe in our work.
314
00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,520
We collect small pieces
and it makes you try to
315
00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,360
understand the
rest of the story.
316
00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,040
The men
roll the block again,
317
00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:42,520
until it sits
precariously on the rails.
318
00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:47,400
Six ton and a half,
319
00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:49,920
any mistake it
could cause an injury.
320
00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:55,360
The block
is finally moving...
321
00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,600
The wrong way.
322
00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:09,040
The men struggle
to move the granite block
323
00:19:09,120 --> 00:19:10,120
from the pit.
324
00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:16,840
But Mohamed has a
new plan to get it out
325
00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:18,800
using a chain block.
326
00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,240
MOHAMED We will
see if it will work or no.
327
00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:34,760
So finally, it's working!
328
00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,560
It's slow but it's working.
329
00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:41,600
At last,
the men move the block and
330
00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:43,640
set it aside.
331
00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,560
Wow they did it.
332
00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,040
So Mohamed
can examine it in detail.
333
00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:50,640
It's so beautiful.
334
00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:53,800
This was the door hinge,
so the door socket was here.
335
00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:56,920
Mohamed discovers
the block is a lintel that
336
00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,240
would have sat
above a grand doorway.
337
00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:01,880
Now we know
exactly the width of the door.
338
00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:04,280
In the future, we
can reconstruct it.
339
00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,760
The lintel
bears Queen Setibhor's name
340
00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,720
a clue it's part of
the mysterious structure
341
00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:13,880
built next to her pyramid.
342
00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,000
She's using
very special granite,
343
00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,000
which was only used
for kings, not for queens.
344
00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,120
Was Setibhor
acting as a king?
345
00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,880
What will this mystery
building, and her pyramid,
346
00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:28,600
reveal about
Queen Setibhor's power?
347
00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,240
At Deir El-Bahari near Luxor,
348
00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:40,200
Patryk is also investigating
a queen, Hatshepsut.
349
00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:45,240
Strangely, she preserved
an ancient tomb beneath her
350
00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:47,760
magnificent mortuary temple.
351
00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:50,120
Patryk wants to know if
it can shed light on how
352
00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,960
Hatshepsut ruled
as a pharaoh queen.
353
00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:56,840
The original occupant of
the tomb remains a mystery.
354
00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,040
We are sure
that it wasn't a prince
355
00:21:01,120 --> 00:21:03,320
or even another son of a king.
356
00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:07,720
A hollow in
the floor once held a mummy
357
00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:09,320
in a wooden coffin.
358
00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:11,560
They are both long gone.
359
00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,360
But Patryk's uncovered
some significant clues.
360
00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:18,120
We are
cleaning the tomb inside.
361
00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,760
Among the thousands
of kilograms of debris
362
00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:26,760
we found magnificent
objects from the tomb.
363
00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,000
Their excavations
confirm that the tomb
364
00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:34,080
pre-dates Hatshepsut's
temple by hundreds of years.
365
00:21:37,360 --> 00:21:40,200
Hatshepsut built her
temple with three huge,
366
00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:44,440
layered terraces carved
into the rocks and parades
367
00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:46,280
of 22 columns.
368
00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,240
She adorned the walls with
scenes that proclaimed her
369
00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:52,760
divine right to rule Egypt.
370
00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:58,440
But in the far corner
she left a small entrance
371
00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:02,560
to a corridor that led down
to a plain burial chamber.
372
00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,960
Patryk's team excavated
rubble containing thousands of
373
00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,200
ancient artifacts
including pottery and
374
00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,200
mysterious wooden figurines.
375
00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:17,840
Why did Hatshepsut
build her temple on top of
376
00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:18,960
this hidden tomb?
377
00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:25,680
Unfortunately there
is no inscriptional evidence
378
00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:28,520
but I want to get to
know what the objects
379
00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,960
which we revealed from
the debris will tell us.
380
00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,720
Pottery expert
Ania Wezranowska is working
381
00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,760
through the thousands
of finds from the tomb.
382
00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:44,120
She thinks she's found
something important.
383
00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,320
I wanted to
show you, there's a
complete one, actually.
384
00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:50,040
Ever seen something like that?
385
00:22:50,120 --> 00:22:51,440
Never before.
386
00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:52,880
Oh, that's impressive.
387
00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,240
Even the smallest
find could help reveal the
388
00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,960
secrets of the tomb,
and what significance it
389
00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:00,720
holds for Hatshepsut.
390
00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,560
In Saqqara, deep
inside the pyramid,
391
00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:13,880
Mohamed's team has built
an extra supporting wall.
392
00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:16,360
Now, he can
resume the search for
393
00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,560
Queen Setibhor's
burial chamber.
394
00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:21,400
We have
measured above the pyramid,
395
00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:24,080
and we are almost in the
middle of the pyramid here.
396
00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:27,120
If Mohamed
can reach her tomb,
397
00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:29,760
it may answer vital questions.
398
00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:32,120
Why did Setibhor have
the biggest pyramid ever
399
00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,200
built for a queen?
400
00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:36,160
What was the
extent of her power?
401
00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:39,640
But to get any further,
402
00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:43,000
Mohamed faces
his toughest obstacle yet.
403
00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:47,040
The end of the corridor is
blocked by an unstable wall of
404
00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:49,000
sand and rubble.
405
00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,880
It could avalanche down
at the slightest touch.
406
00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:59,240
I called now the Rais to
instruct him how to proceed.
407
00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:04,160
I also trust him,
so I will take his
opinion if this is stable.
408
00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:09,320
The foreman, the
Rais gives a cautious go-ahead
409
00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:11,680
to continue the search
for the burial chamber.
410
00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:33,320
From the top of the pyramid,
411
00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,720
Mohamed can see the problem.
412
00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:37,840
A hole is
forming in the crater.
413
00:24:38,360 --> 00:24:40,560
The rubble is falling
straight through to the
414
00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:41,680
men in the tunnel.
415
00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:46,720
The bad
sign is part of the
ceiling is not preserved.
416
00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:47,920
The good sign?
417
00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:52,080
We are not very deep,
so we are very close
to the burial chamber.
418
00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:56,120
Down below, the
rubble just keeps on coming.
419
00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,320
The dust slows
the work of Mohamed's men.
420
00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:10,560
But finally, they
make a breakthrough.
421
00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:14,320
For the first time,
we have daylight inside the
422
00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:16,000
burial chamber of the queen.
423
00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:19,080
We have to continue
removing the rubble
424
00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:21,200
and limestone chips.
425
00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:26,040
Mohamed checks the pyramid core.
426
00:25:26,120 --> 00:25:29,840
But he must tread
carefully where the
tomb ceiling has collapsed.
427
00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:33,240
Part of the north
wall of the burial chamber of
428
00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:36,160
Queen Setibhor which
is fantastic to see from
429
00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:38,200
the other side.
430
00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:40,920
There's still
a lot of ancient rubble to
431
00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,680
remove before he can
investigate inside.
432
00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,160
He only has one week left
on his permit for the site.
433
00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:52,040
Will it be enough time
to reveal the secrets of
434
00:25:52,120 --> 00:25:54,920
Queen Setibhor's
burial chamber?
435
00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:03,400
At Abu Simbel, near
Egypt's southern border,
436
00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:06,520
Colleen visits one of Egypt's
most remarkable monuments.
437
00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:13,000
She is investigating how
women wielded power as queens
438
00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,560
in a world dominated by men.
439
00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:19,440
Hatshepsut turned
herself into a King.
440
00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:22,760
But was there another way
for queens to exercise power?
441
00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:26,360
Colleen has come to the
temple of one of the most
442
00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:29,200
exalted queens
of all to find out.
443
00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,320
I want to investigate
one of the greatest
444
00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:34,720
queens of history.
445
00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,040
Her name is Nefertari
and she's the wife
446
00:26:37,120 --> 00:26:39,400
of Ramses the Great.
447
00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:44,720
Ramses the Second
ruled Egypt for 60 years.
448
00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,320
He expanded the empire
and built more monuments
449
00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:49,680
than any other ruler.
450
00:26:50,360 --> 00:26:52,640
His achievements
earned him the title,
451
00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:55,200
"Ramses the Great."
452
00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:58,360
COLLEEN This is
a statue of Queen Nefertari
453
00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:02,040
to either side are
images of her husband,
Ramses the Second.
454
00:27:02,120 --> 00:27:05,680
But what's remarkable is
she's almost of equal height
455
00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:07,600
to the pharaoh himself.
456
00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:11,240
In Ancient Egypt,
size meant power.
457
00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:15,880
Nefertari was portrayed as
having virtually equal power
458
00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,240
as Ramses himself.
459
00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:20,560
But Colleen finds an
inscription revealing
460
00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:22,800
something even
more impressive.
461
00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:25,680
Here's an
inscription that tells us
462
00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:31,640
Weben-Ra en Mirit-as,
"Ra Rises for love of her."
463
00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:37,120
Ra was the
ancient Egyptian sun god.
464
00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:38,960
This column of
Hieroglyphs means that
465
00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,520
Nefertari was one of
the few queens to achieve
466
00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,640
the status of a goddess.
467
00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:46,760
Nefertari was
honored as a goddess even
468
00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:50,560
though she was not a
pharaoh queen like Hatshepsut.
469
00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:54,440
What did she do to
deserve this exalted status?
470
00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:57,640
So now
I want to know,
471
00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,680
is this just propaganda for
a favorite wife or did she
472
00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,720
actually wield power?
473
00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:13,280
This is the queen.
474
00:28:13,360 --> 00:28:15,640
Nefertari is
incredibly beautiful,
475
00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:18,920
but I think there's more
to the story than that.
476
00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:23,040
This is a clay tablet
found in modern day Turkey.
477
00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:28,840
It's a letter
written in ancient Akkadian.
478
00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:33,120
It shows the queen of the
Hittites writing to Nefertari
479
00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:36,400
before the two empires
completed the world's first
480
00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:38,320
recorded peace treaty.
481
00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:41,280
This means that
she was really involved in
482
00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,920
diplomacy between the
two greatest empires of
483
00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:45,520
the ancient world.
484
00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:51,080
It shows that Nefertari
was an influential figure.
485
00:28:51,160 --> 00:28:54,000
She helped broker a treaty
that kept peace between the
486
00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:56,640
great empires for 40 years.
487
00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:00,040
Ramses acknowledged his
queen's importance on the
488
00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:01,600
walls of her temple.
489
00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:06,880
COLLEEN This
is Ramses smiting an enemy.
490
00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,600
It's a brutal, but this is
how ancient Egyptian kings
491
00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:12,560
express their power.
492
00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:17,240
What's unusual is that
Queen Nefertari is behind him.
493
00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:21,920
Kings rarely
shared the glory of military
494
00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:24,440
victories with their queens.
495
00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:27,440
It suggests Nefertari
played a significant role
496
00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:30,320
in Ramses' reign.
497
00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:32,760
It's possible
that this is propaganda,
498
00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:37,680
but it's also likely that this
shows Queen Nefertari had real
499
00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:39,600
political power.
500
00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:43,200
The evidence
suggests Nefertari and Ramses
501
00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:45,480
formed a royal power couple,
502
00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:48,240
each vital to the
success of the other.
503
00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:50,280
Ancient Egyptian queens,
504
00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:54,600
whether they were married
to a pharaoh or ruled as
pharaoh in their own right,
505
00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:58,480
they truly wielded authority.
506
00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:01,000
While Hatshepsut ruled as a king,
507
00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:04,960
Nefertari exercised a
different sort of power.
508
00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:09,400
From behind the throne, her
astute diplomacy and political
509
00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:13,440
influence helped change the
course of Egypt's history.
510
00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,760
At Saqqara, time is running
out for Mohamed to discover
511
00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:29,520
the secrets of
Queen Setibhor's
burial chamber.
512
00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:33,280
His team has finally
cleared a path.
513
00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:38,320
Now Mohamed can
get through to see
the chamber for himself.
514
00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:45,000
But they face a
new danger from above.
515
00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:48,360
The roof of the burial chamber
has completely collapsed,
516
00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:51,400
and the crumbling,
overhanging walls could follow
517
00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:53,240
at any moment.
518
00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:56,480
This is the area
which we need to support.
519
00:30:56,560 --> 00:30:58,680
If the walls
are only propped up by the
520
00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:01,880
loose rubble underfoot,
the slightest move could bring
521
00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:04,040
them crashing
down in an instant.
522
00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:09,040
But if they can find
solid stone foundations
beneath the wall,
523
00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:11,160
they can be more
confident that the overhang
524
00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:13,320
won't collapse as they dig.
525
00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,120
We have here
parts of the large stones,
526
00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:19,800
and he's looking for the
continuation of the stones.
527
00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:23,680
They search for the
massive stone slabs that once
528
00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:25,760
supported the structure above.
529
00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:29,640
Until they find them, their
only protection is to patch
530
00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:31,320
the walls with mortar.
531
00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:39,920
Outside Setibhor's pyramid,
532
00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:43,440
Czech archaeologist
Hana Vymazalova helps Mohamed
533
00:31:43,520 --> 00:31:46,320
investigate the
mysterious ruins.
534
00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:48,760
If she can discover
what they were,
535
00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:52,280
it might reveal the source
of Setibhor's power and
536
00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:54,160
how she ruled as queen.
537
00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:57,160
She finds an important clue.
538
00:31:57,240 --> 00:31:58,240
Yep...
539
00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:02,280
So, we have here the typical
pattern of the ceilings,
540
00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:04,320
like a night sky with stars.
541
00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:06,840
The stars
would have originally been
542
00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:10,240
painted yellow on
a dark blue background.
543
00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:13,240
They help Hana
identify the structure.
544
00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:14,960
This is a roofing block,
545
00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:18,120
which came from the
portico of the queen.
546
00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:20,920
It's part
of a huge portico,
547
00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:24,640
a ceremonial entrance to
what must have been a temple.
548
00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:29,080
This was the portico,
and here is an entrance into
549
00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:33,440
the temple which was just
opposite to the stairs and if
550
00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:36,080
you measure the
width of this entrance,
551
00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:37,960
it actually fits very nicely.
552
00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:42,280
Hana's discovery
proves this mysterious
553
00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:45,640
building was Queen
Setibhor's funerary temple.
554
00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:48,760
Where priests and
worshippers spoke her name,
555
00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:50,720
and according to
Egyptian belief,
556
00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,480
ensured her soul
lived for eternity.
557
00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:56,800
It is very exciting
to see it all coming together.
558
00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,240
It's a puzzle, 3-D!
559
00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:02,240
It's a
significant find,
560
00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:05,560
and its size is more
evidence that Setibhor was
561
00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:07,240
a powerful woman.
562
00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:10,120
The funerary temple
is the biggest funerary temple
563
00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:12,200
built for a queen
in the Old Kingdom.
564
00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:16,760
What more can these ruins
reveal about Setibhor and
565
00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:18,600
the queens of the Old Kingdom?
566
00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:23,000
Could she have paved
the way for powerful
New Kingdom queens
567
00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:25,720
like Hatshepsut
and Nefertari?
568
00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:34,800
At Deir El-Bahari, Patryk
wants to know why Hatshepsut
569
00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,280
chose this location
for her temple,
570
00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:40,280
and how she ruled in a
world dominated by men.
571
00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:44,400
He hopes that the thousands
of finds from a tomb
572
00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:46,800
beneath it might yield clues.
573
00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:50,920
One new discovery
intrigues Patryk and
his colleague Ania.
574
00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:55,920
It's amazing, a double
bottle showing two females
575
00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:58,520
with a female breast
in the upper part.
576
00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:01,360
And that's interesting,
this has female features also.
577
00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:02,600
And it also
came from the tomb?
578
00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:04,080
Yes, yes.
579
00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:06,640
The pieces
look like religious charms.
580
00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:11,400
This cow head with
a cobra and a solar disc
581
00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:15,200
between the horns,
which is unfortunately gone.
582
00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:20,040
Amulets showing the head
of a woman with cow ears.
583
00:34:22,240 --> 00:34:26,000
Patryk has a hunch that he's
seen these features before.
584
00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:29,880
He heads up to
a shrine that Hatshepsut
built in her temple.
585
00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:34,040
It could reveal why the
pharaoh queen built here.
586
00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:39,880
On pillars we
can see a female head
587
00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:42,440
with cow ears on both sides.
588
00:34:43,880 --> 00:34:48,160
Hatshepsut dedicated this shrine
to the cow goddess Hathor.
589
00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:51,400
It's directly above the tomb.
590
00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:54,840
The matching finds
confirm a theory Patryk has,
591
00:34:54,920 --> 00:34:59,040
that the tomb was
used by a religious cult
that worshiped Hathor.
592
00:34:59,960 --> 00:35:04,520
Hathor was the
mother of the gods and their
representatives here on earth,
593
00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:06,480
the pharaohs.
594
00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:13,240
Ancient Egyptians worshipped
Hathor in the form of a cow or
595
00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,920
as a woman with cow horns,
holding the sun disc.
596
00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:22,720
She was the powerful goddess
of motherhood and fertility...
597
00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:25,720
who breathed new life
into dead souls and guided
598
00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:27,360
them to the hereafter.
599
00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:34,320
In some myths, Hathor gave
birth to the sun each day,
600
00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:38,480
bringing life and
banishing the darkness.
601
00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:43,840
She was particularly
revered by pharaohs.
602
00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:46,360
By feeding them
her divine milk,
603
00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:48,960
Hathor bestowed on
them the power to rule.
604
00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:56,000
It's really
exciting because the
items which we found
605
00:35:56,080 --> 00:35:57,640
in the tomb, now we know that
606
00:35:57,720 --> 00:36:01,640
they were connected for sure
with the cow goddess Hathor.
607
00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:06,320
The tomb was
built long before Hatshepsut.
608
00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:10,880
But the Hathor
amulets discovered
in it date to her era.
609
00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:15,800
They're powerful proof that
the old tomb was used in the
610
00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:19,280
cult worship of Hathor
in Hatshepsut's time.
611
00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:24,800
It's telling us
about a very intensive story
612
00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:27,360
of the cult of
the cow goddess.
613
00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:30,920
Patryk believes
this is why Hatshepsut
614
00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:32,560
built her temple here.
615
00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:36,280
This entire valley had ancient
links with the Hathor cult.
616
00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:39,040
And the sheer quantity of
discoveries in the tomb prove
617
00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:42,800
the cult was very active
during Hatshepsut's reign.
618
00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:47,240
The cow goddess was
worshipped in Deir El-Bahari
619
00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:49,000
at least since
the Middle Kingdom.
620
00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:51,520
But Hatshepsut
decided to build
621
00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:53,720
not only her
temple at Deir El-Bahari
622
00:36:53,800 --> 00:36:59,040
but also to
construct a special
shrine for the cow goddess.
623
00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:03,400
Hatshepsut was
one of the few queens ever
624
00:37:03,480 --> 00:37:05,520
to become pharaoh.
625
00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:09,200
She used masculine images
all over her temple to
626
00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:10,720
project her power.
627
00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:13,840
But Patryk's new evidence
shows that she projected
628
00:37:13,920 --> 00:37:17,360
feminine powers too,
promoting Hathor here,
629
00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:20,320
ahead of all the other gods.
630
00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:23,240
Hathor, the powerful
goddess of femininity,
631
00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:27,000
motherhood and women,
helped Hatshepsut become the
632
00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:28,760
mother of her nation.
633
00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:39,640
At Saqqara, in
Setibhor's burial chamber,
634
00:37:39,720 --> 00:37:42,120
Mohamed's team is searching
for solid limestone
635
00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:45,200
foundations beneath
the overhanging walls,
636
00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:46,840
so they can be
sure they are safe.
637
00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:50,280
He hopes the chamber will
hold clues to how Setibhor
638
00:37:50,360 --> 00:37:51,960
ruled as a queen.
639
00:37:52,040 --> 00:37:54,680
Was she a ruling
pharaoh like Hatshepsut,
640
00:37:54,760 --> 00:37:57,120
or a powerful wife
like Nefertari?
641
00:37:57,960 --> 00:38:01,200
Finally, a worker sees
a smooth limestone face.
642
00:38:03,240 --> 00:38:06,040
Mohamed confirms it's the
stone he's been looking for.
643
00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:10,600
It's good news
because it's supporting
all of the area here.
644
00:38:11,200 --> 00:38:14,360
Solid stone foundations
underpin the overhang,
645
00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:16,920
so digging can safely resume.
646
00:38:23,720 --> 00:38:27,000
It's the last day of
excavation inside the pyramid.
647
00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:29,680
Hana joins Mohamed
in the burial chamber.
648
00:38:30,720 --> 00:38:33,720
But will they have time to
excavate all this rubble and
649
00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:35,760
find any traces of Setibhor?
650
00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:40,400
They've discovered she built
the largest pyramid and
651
00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:44,040
funerary temple of any
queen of the Old Kingdom.
652
00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:46,600
She was a great
Old Kingdom Queen...
653
00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:48,240
But how did she rule?
654
00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:51,920
Was she pharaoh herself, or
part of a royal power couple?
655
00:38:52,840 --> 00:38:56,760
Mohamed hopes that he
might find answers in
the burial chamber itself.
656
00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:00,440
It seems
everything was smashed.
657
00:39:00,520 --> 00:39:05,560
This very small, tiny,
small pieces of limestone,
658
00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:09,080
it means that
stone robbers came here
and smashed everything.
659
00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:12,560
Stone robbers
plundered valuable
660
00:39:12,640 --> 00:39:16,320
white limestone from most
of Egypt's ancient tombs,
661
00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:18,560
just as tomb robbers
took their treasures.
662
00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:22,320
But Mohamed still sees a
treasure trove of clues.
663
00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:25,520
Yes,
we have more surprises.
664
00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:28,520
The exposed
limestone reveals an
665
00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:30,000
important new discovery.
666
00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:31,400
The serdab.
667
00:39:31,640 --> 00:39:32,640
It's very nice.
668
00:39:33,240 --> 00:39:36,000
The queen built for
the first time, a serdab.
669
00:39:36,080 --> 00:39:39,440
It's a storeroom to the
east of her burial chamber.
670
00:39:40,360 --> 00:39:43,040
A serdab was a
chamber usually reserved for
671
00:39:43,120 --> 00:39:45,280
a statue of the pharaoh.
672
00:39:45,360 --> 00:39:48,840
Later queens had serdabs,
but Mohamed has discovered
673
00:39:48,920 --> 00:39:52,200
Setibhor was the
first queen to build one.
674
00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:55,560
Why was Setibhor able
to claim this, and other,
675
00:39:55,640 --> 00:39:57,240
privileges of kings?
676
00:39:59,960 --> 00:40:02,880
All the clues show
that Mohamed and Hana have
677
00:40:02,960 --> 00:40:05,200
discovered one of the
most illustrious queens
678
00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:06,640
of Ancient Egypt.
679
00:40:07,760 --> 00:40:10,080
Setibhor was wife of Djedkare,
680
00:40:10,160 --> 00:40:12,800
one of the great pharaohs
of the Old Kingdom.
681
00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:17,080
She was powerful enough to
build the largest pyramid and
682
00:40:17,160 --> 00:40:20,040
temple complex of
any Old Kingdom queen.
683
00:40:23,960 --> 00:40:26,720
The size and design
of her mortuary temple,
684
00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:31,280
looks less like a queen's
and more like a king's.
685
00:40:34,880 --> 00:40:38,400
Could this mean that
Djedkare's mysterious queen
686
00:40:38,480 --> 00:40:40,600
may have ruled, as king?
687
00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:49,800
Hieroglyphics expert, Hana,
thinks that the answer might
688
00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,880
be hiding on a column they
discovered by her pyramid.
689
00:40:53,840 --> 00:40:56,600
It's inscribed with
her name, Setibhor.
690
00:40:56,680 --> 00:40:59,040
The last part of it,
"Hor" stands for Horus,
691
00:40:59,120 --> 00:41:00,200
the falcon god.
692
00:41:00,720 --> 00:41:03,760
HANA The
name of Horus is written
with the individual letters,
693
00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:06,600
not with the
sign of the falcon,
694
00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:09,800
because if it's written
as a falcon then that would
695
00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:11,080
be the king's name.
696
00:41:11,640 --> 00:41:13,800
The Horus'
inscription reveals the true
697
00:41:13,880 --> 00:41:15,760
extent of Setibhor's power.
698
00:41:16,640 --> 00:41:19,960
They are
features which scream
I'm the important queen,
699
00:41:20,040 --> 00:41:22,760
but at the same time,
they are features which show
700
00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:25,680
that she is not
a royal person,
she's not the ruler,
701
00:41:25,760 --> 00:41:26,920
she's not the king.
702
00:41:27,920 --> 00:41:30,360
Setibhor was not a pharaoh queen,
703
00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:32,800
the supreme ruler of Egypt.
704
00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:35,800
She didn't have the
power of Hatshepsut.
705
00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:39,080
But the evidence uncovered
here suggests she was a
706
00:41:39,160 --> 00:41:42,640
powerful royal from a
powerful royal dynasty,
707
00:41:42,720 --> 00:41:46,960
and perhaps reigned more like
Nefertari, 1,000 years later.
708
00:41:48,160 --> 00:41:50,320
Everything that
we are uncovering here.
709
00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:54,160
They all seem to indicate
that she might have been
710
00:41:54,240 --> 00:41:56,320
related to the kings.
711
00:41:56,400 --> 00:41:59,760
So maybe she was the link
between those kings and
712
00:41:59,840 --> 00:42:01,400
Djedkare himself.
713
00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:04,520
Maybe that's why she was so
important because she was the
714
00:42:04,600 --> 00:42:08,080
one who helped him
to the throne of Egypt,
715
00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:10,880
and she was the
power behind the throne.
716
00:42:12,240 --> 00:42:15,080
Their discoveries
reveal that Queen Setibhor was
717
00:42:15,160 --> 00:42:18,000
one of the most powerful
and influential figures
718
00:42:18,080 --> 00:42:19,320
of Ancient Egypt.
719
00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:23,160
And in a society that
venerated its ancestors,
720
00:42:23,240 --> 00:42:25,160
perhaps even a role model for
721
00:42:25,240 --> 00:42:27,040
the great queens
that followed her.
722
00:42:29,360 --> 00:42:32,080
Finally, the team's
excavated enough rubble for
723
00:42:32,160 --> 00:42:35,760
Mohamed to see the dimensions
of Setibhor's burial chamber.
724
00:42:36,560 --> 00:42:39,320
Maybe this is a line
of the height of the room.
725
00:42:39,400 --> 00:42:42,680
The ceiling reached up until
this line all the way we have
726
00:42:42,760 --> 00:42:45,160
the line in the room.
727
00:42:45,240 --> 00:42:47,120
All the way here.
728
00:42:48,720 --> 00:42:50,840
The discovery of
the ceiling line means there
729
00:42:50,920 --> 00:42:53,960
is still ten feet of
rubble to clear to reveal
730
00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:57,000
the entire tomb and
time is running out.
731
00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:01,160
Today is the last day on
his permit for the site.
732
00:43:01,240 --> 00:43:02,880
I'm not sure we
will reach the floor today,
733
00:43:02,960 --> 00:43:06,080
actually, I'm not sure
even if we will have a floor.
734
00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:11,160
But Mohamed
has achieved his goal,
735
00:43:11,240 --> 00:43:13,680
he's found Setibhor's
burial chamber and
736
00:43:13,760 --> 00:43:15,720
will return to
excavate it fully.
737
00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:18,640
I hope in the coming
season we will come again,
738
00:43:18,720 --> 00:43:20,520
and we will continue
and will finish the work.
739
00:43:22,560 --> 00:43:25,400
Mohamed and Hana
have rediscovered a long-lost
740
00:43:25,480 --> 00:43:30,680
queen that towered over Egypt,
900-years before Hatshepsut.
741
00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:33,520
A queen ahead of her time,
742
00:43:33,600 --> 00:43:36,240
inspiring queens
for centuries to come.
743
00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:41,000
Like Hatshepsut,
who projected masculine power
744
00:43:41,080 --> 00:43:44,200
but drew on the
feminine goddess Hathor...
745
00:43:44,280 --> 00:43:46,000
And Nefertari,
746
00:43:46,080 --> 00:43:49,000
who wielded her formidable
power alongside one of the
747
00:43:49,080 --> 00:43:51,080
greatest kings of all time.
748
00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:55,400
Perhaps Setibhor was
the trailblazer for both.
749
00:43:56,480 --> 00:43:59,800
Now she can be restored
to her rightful place
750
00:43:59,880 --> 00:44:03,120
alongside them and be
recognized amongst the
751
00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:06,080
greatest queens
of Ancient Egypt.